Gravity grip tripod



Dec. 30, 1941-. H, GQSLER 2,268,070

GRAVITY GRIP TRIPOD Filed May 28, 1940 In venior Jilaadad {@zder Aifomey Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE GRAVITY GRIPTRIPOD 3 Howard Geisler, Galena, Kans.

Application May 28, 1940, Serial No. 337,717

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a gravity grip tripod, the general object ofthe invention being to provide means for automatically locking an objectto the tripod when a part of the object is placed on a seat-forming partof the tripod and the legs are spread apart so that gravity causes theparts to firmly grip the object.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to behereinaiter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the tripod showing an object grippedthereby, the object being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tripod.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the gripping jaw of theY-shaped leg of the tripod.

In these views, the numeral I indicates a platelike member of elongatedform which at its top and adjacent one end thereof is provided with acircular seat-forming part 2 which extends to said adjacent end of themember and the top of the member opposite said end is formed with anundercut jaw forming part 3 of arcuate shape, this jaw forming partextending over a portion of the seat forming part. A Y-shaped legforming member 4 has its stem 5 provided with an arcuate shaped jawforming part 6 and said stem is also provided with the perforated andspaced ears I which are spaced below the jaw formingpart 6 and receivebetween them said end of the plate I with a pivot pin 9 passing throughthe perforations and through a hole in the plate I so that the Y-shapedleg member is pivotally or hingedly connected with the member I. Thelimbs of the Y-shaped member forming two of the legs of the tripod andtheir extremities are sharpened and turned downwardly as shown at ID toengage firmly the surface on which the tripod is placed. The second endof the member I is formed with a hole for receiving the pivot pin IIwhich holds the third leg I2 to the plate and said plate is alsoprovided with a plurality of holes I3 any one of which is to receive thepin I4 which passes through the upper end of the leg I2 so that theinclination of said leg I2 can be adjusted by placing the pin I4 in thedesired one of the holes I3. This will act to raise or lower the memberI of the tripod. The leg I2 has a forked upper end which embraces theplate I and its lower end is bent and pointed as shown at I5 to properlyengage the surface.

Thus it will be seen that by raising the member I to move the jaw member6 away from the stationary jaw member 3 an object such as that shown atA in dotted lines in Figure 1, can be placed on the seat and then bylowering the member I raising the Y-shaped leg member the object isgripped between the two jaw members and the weight of the object willcause the jaw members to firmly grip the same.

As will be seen the tripod can be easily and quickly engaged with anobject or disengaged therefrom and there are no screws or otherfastening means to manipulate and the tripodcan be adjusted in height byremoving the pin I4 and placing it in another hole I3.

This tripod can be used for various purposes and is useful as a mountingfora machine gun.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the I placed on the seat, a doubleleg member pivotally connected to the seat carrying member and having ajaw member at the upper portion of its inner end for gripping anotherpart of an object placed on the seat for holding the object on the seat,and another leg member pivoted to the seat carrying member, a pluralityof holes in the seat carrying member and a pin passing through the saidother leg member and adapted to engage any one of the holes foradjusting the height of the tripod.

2. A supporting member of the class described comprising I ahorizontally extending member having an upwardly facing object receivingseat, the said member having a part rising above the plane of the seatwith said part having an end wall which slopes upwardly and inwardlyfrom an edge portion of the seat, said sloping wall forming a stationaryjaw for gripping a portion of anobject placed on the seat, a leg memberpivoted to an end of the horizontal member and the seat extending tosaid end of the horizontal member, said leg member having a portionoverhanging a part of the seat with another portion of the leg memberbearing against said end of the horizontal member with the pivotal pointlocated below the seat and another leg member connected with the otherend of the horizontal member.

HOWARD GEISLER. I

